A Godly LifeSample

Hidden treasure Stories abound in the settlement of the American West of people who rushed to establish clear legal title to land they were sure was valuable — land with grazing rights, water rights, and especially mining rights. Prospectors in particular tried their best to keep anyone else from finding out about a lucky strike until they had solidified their ownership. They didn’t want anyone “jumping” their claim. Jesus told a story once about a man’s lucky find and what he did to secure it: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” (Matthew 13:44). This doesn’t mean that when you discover God’s amazing grace through Jesus Christ you keep it a secret. The gospel is meant to be shared. Jesus meant that so valuable is a living relationship with God, the forgiveness of your sins, a clean conscience, clear guidance to a happy life, and the promise of immortality in heaven that it is worth whatever you may have to sacrifice in order to live that life. Is there anything keeping you from following God? Are the friends you hang with boat anchors for your soul? Does the pursuit of money leave you with no time or energy for the pursuit of understanding God and his Word?